By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Rotary and Rotarian Ijeoma Pearl Okoro |
WASHINGTON, DC – In a milestone celebration of global service and humanitarian excellence, Rotarian Ijeoma Pearl Okoro, a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, has been conferred with the prestigious 2026 Martin Luther King Legacy Award for Global Leadership and Humanitarian Impact.
The honor recognizes her decades of selfless dedication to community development, peacebuilding, and bridge-building across international borders.
The announcement was made by the organizers of the International Salute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during their 34th annual celebration. The high-profile event, held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC, served as a global platform to honor leaders whose lives mirror the vision of Dr. King.
Madeline Lawson, Founder and CEO of the MLK Jr. International Salute, emphasized that the 2026 honorees were selected for their "moral leadership" and ability to drive tangible social change. Okoro, a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was selected from a competitive pool of global advocates, diplomats, and philanthropists.
A statement issued by Victor Ojelabi on behalf of the Rotary District 9112 Public Image Committee highlighted that the award celebrates those who foster justice and cultural understanding. As a Trustee of The Rotary Foundation (2024–2028), Okoro has been instrumental in managing the charitable arm of Rotary International, which supports 1.4 million members in their mission to advance world understanding and peace.
By receiving this honor, Ijeoma Pearl Okoro joins an elite roster of past recipients, including: General Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General. John Lewis, Civil Rights icon and US Congressman, and Bob Dole, former US Senator
The 2026 ceremony also recognized other distinguished figures, such as US Congressman Jamie Raskin (Government and Public Service), Austrian Ambassador Dr. Petra Schneebauer (Global Diplomacy), and Ricki Fairley of The Black Breast Cancer Alliance.
The leadership of Rotary International Zone 22, which oversees all Rotary districts in Africa, expressed immense pride in Okoro’s achievement. They described the award as a fitting tribute to her "enduring commitment" to the continent's development and her role as a trailblazer for African women in global humanitarianism.